Natural Resource Development in Latvia: Peat, its Composition and New Ways of Utilization

Peat is one of the most valuable natural resources of Latvia and its mining contributes significantly to the national economy. Peat resources per capita put Latvia in the 8th place in the world and at the present rate of mining it can be continued for at least 800 years. However it is important to protect the fragile nature of bogs. A solution to meet the needs of nature conservation a better understanding of properties of peat and the development of new applications producing added value to innovative products are necessary. A better understanding of peat formation can help in the use of abandoned peat fields. An example of new products obtained from peat are humus related substances which have huge application potential in agriculture, chemical production and biomedicine as well as in environmental technologies.